Govt rejects demand for changes in anti-terror laws

Government on Wednesday rejected BJP demand for changes in the anti-terror laws enacted after the Mumbai strikes, maintaining that there was no point in having laws which could not stand judicial scrutiny.

"We cannot imitate certain other countries, their way of reaction and many, many lives are being lost daily ....Human rights, human liberty and values are sacrosanct," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Lok Sabha.

"There is no point of promulgating tough laws only to allow courts to question them," he said in reply to a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address.

He was responding to Leader of Opposition L K Advani's statement yesterday wondering why government had not brought amendments in the anti-terror laws during the current session of Parliament.

"These (existing) laws have been carefully crafted, keeping in view our security concerns as well as to protect the rights of individuals," Mukherjee said.

Agreeing with Advani, he said it was very difficult "to counter a weapon like a suicide bomber who is brainwashed and is determined to kill himself or herself and cause incalculable harm."

Still, adequate steps were being taken and "we are working on it," Mukherjee said.